Editor 's note : Maura O'Connell , a native of County Clare , Ireland , records for Sugar Hill Records . Her current album is `` Naked With Friends . ''

Singer Maura O'Connell says one of Ted Kennedy 's favorite songs , `` A Family Tie , '' spoke to his love of family .

-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In 1992 , I had the pleasure of singing at the wedding of Sen. Edward Kennedy to Victoria Reggie . I had never met him , nor was I aware that he had even heard of me . To say I was surprised would be an understatement .

He made the call himself to my home number . My housemate hung up on him , believing it was a hoax , but he eventually left a number for me to contact .

When we spoke the next day , he told me how much he enjoyed my singing and named particular songs that meant a great deal to him . One of those songs is `` A Family Tie '' by Hugh Prestwood , which speaks to the idea of unconditional love within a family .

I can only assume that it had particular resonance for him . We discussed the song and many others that were favorites of his and , of course , I agreed to sing at the wedding .

We spoke a few more times before the wedding and he sounded like any other man who was delighted to be marrying the woman he loved .

I was thrilled to be involved . The Kennedys have been a huge part of the Irish psyche since I was a child . In many houses back then , there were pictures of the pope and John F. Kennedy . The fact that he was proudly Irish was a huge boost for our national ego at the time .

My family had a very special photograph that was on top of our piano all my life . It was a picture of my father with Ted Kennedy that was taken in the early '60s at the Shannon Airport duty free store , where my father worked at the time . We were all very proud of that , so when I got the call about singing at the wedding , the first person I told was my dad .

On the day of the wedding , my musicians Richard McLaurin and Zane Baxter and I were brought to Kennedy 's house and escorted to the senator 's home office . There were so many iconic pictures on the walls it was disconcerting .

He made time to come and visit us and was about as genial a host as I have ever encountered . He talked about his bride-to-be in glorious terms , shared the story of his proposal to Vicki , and answered questions about the various pictures around the room . He was relaxed and happy .

The wedding itself was beautiful . It was just very close family . There was a civil ceremony and then a blessing . I sang some songs during the ceremony , and then a few afterwards . He joined in here and there , but God bless him , he had n't a note in his head .

He had requested that I sing the old standard `` You 'll Never Know '' which I had recorded , and he and his bride danced , looking into each other 's eyes . He gave Vicki a painting of daffodils he had painted as a wedding gift . A few days later , a framed signed print of the painting was delivered to my home . What a thoughtful gesture .

Ever since then we kept in contact . They came to see me play at the Birchmere , a music hall in Alexandria , Virginia , a few times . I sang at various events the senator was involved in , most recently at a fundraiser for his re-election .

It was not a one-sided friendship though . A few years ago I accompanied my son to Washington to take part in a young leaders of America camp . I was a bit surprised when I found out there was to be no real interaction with any serving politician .

On the day that we were to tour the major sites , I decided to call Kennedy 's office at the Russell Senate building . I explained to his wonderful assistant , Sharon Waxman , what I was doing in Washington and asked if the senator would mind waving at the hordes from his office window .

She called me back about 10 minutes later to say the senator had cleared some time in the afternoon , and he would speak to the group in the little park opposite the building . He spoke to the kids about his first time in Washington and how his brother John , a senator at the time , showed him around .

He told them how inspiring it was to see how government worked and that he knew right then that he wanted to be a public servant . He was playful , too , and told them lots of silly stories about his dog . Afterwards he agreed to be photographed with the group . I believe that many young people gathered there may have been inspired by his stories and may prove to be the next generation of humanistic Democrats .

He loved his country . He loved to serve , but most of all he dearly loved his wife and family . I will miss him , too -- even his singing .

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Maura O'Connell .

@highlight

Maura O'Connell : Ted Kennedy asked me to sing at his wedding

@highlight

She says her family had admired the Kennedys from afar

@highlight

O'Connell says Kennedy was a joyful and gracious host